Saturday, July 10, 2010

Hail Monsoon

It had been an uncomfortable last month; june was exceptionally hot. Looking at the burning landscape made me feel that it had never rained here. Whenever I read the posts of my fellow bloggers from south India, where the monsoons arrived earlier, it felt as if they are some distant lands where rains happen and clouds are a phenomena seen in foreign lands or geography books. Then it happened. Yesterday morning I woke up as usual expecting the strong morning sun to greet me, but the darkness around had me befuddled. It was a completely overcast sky waiting tensely to open up.And open it did. It poured. The rains were heavy and continuous for at least 6 hours – something rare for this place – yet within an hour after they stopped; the Earth around me was quite dry, signaling its remarkable absorptive power on account of absence of rains for so long.
Thankfully, yesterday was not an isolated munificence on the part of rain Gods; it has been raining continuously since yesterday night. It is music to the ears to be sleeping cozily with the sound of raindrops on the rooftop interrupted only by an occasional thunder.
The parched earth, the thirsty birds, the drying plants, the heat paralyzed me…we were all waiting for this moment, and it’s finally here. May it rain the way it should and the way it has not for the last few years, so that all the miseries get drowned in the cleanest water from the heavenly abodes.

34 comments:

Welcome to the blessed group of the monsoon-soaked! Isn't it absolutely, positively perfectly glorious :) :) :)The very first day of the monsoon always seems the most wonderful, doesn't it? And I love it too when it rains at night and I'm tucked away cosily in my home. I can relate so well to everything you've written here. Kindred spirits indeed :)Happy monsoon, GT!

Rain is always welcome in a garden but sometimes too much can do damage. I hope you get the right amount. I enjoyed your butterfly post, my garden also evolved over the years to a butterfly friendly garden and the rewards are tremendous.

Oh, we had a few years of total dryness here too...then just recently they lifted out watering restrictions a bit. The water tables are finally up with the rains we have had in the past year. There is nothing better than the sound of rain on a roof...lulling you to such a comfortable state...

Beautifully written - The parched earth, the thirsty birds, the drying plants, the heat paralyzed me…we were all waiting for this moment, and it’s finally here. Simply a good way to express emotions in monsoon.

Sunita - thank you dear. Irony is that only the first day of monsoon is wonderful here; on rest of the days clouds hold a promise which is never delivered:-(

College Gardener - wow! i guess, it were the same rains that had me enthralled.

Rusty in Miami - thanks Rusty. too much can surely do damage but we are so rain starved that nothing seems more welcome than rains, too much or otherwise. Yes, the one who has reaped the rewards knows - they are tremendous.

lotus leaf - Thanks dear. I am sure you must be feeling the same.

Julie - I guess, a rain deficient state has been a worldwide phenomena. And after that dry spell no music is more melodious than the sound of rains.

Islandgal - So true, let us all celebrate rains.

My Chutney Garden - Thanks. It is always flattering to receive a comment from you. Good that you are back to blogging. I had been missing you.

Cosmos - Thanks Cosmos. Even I was wondering what had overtaken me. I guess it was the heat...or may be heat provided a good excuse for inaction, but i hope I am back now.

We've been dying of heat and humidity too, and praying for rain. It hasn't arrived but we are in the middle of a few days respite - temperatures down to 32° today. Have been rushing around getting things done, as it's supposed to shoot back up at the end of the week. But we find it exceptional when it's 38/39 - I'm not sure how I'd cope with Indian heat!

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We have already done enough harm to the environment…High time we woke up to see the damage we’ve caused.We may not be able to reduce global warming, end pollution and save endangered species single-handedly, but by choosing to live an earth-friendly lifestyle we can do a lot every day to help achieve those goals.Stand Up Take Action 2010.We need you…Globally more than 173 Million people stood up against poverty in 2009, a Guinness World Record! Let us break this record in 2010!

It is Time for You to STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY NOW! Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/unmcampaignINDIA Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/unmcampaignIND

I am so happy to have found your blog. I'm an aspiring gardener and hope to have a garden someday. Right now I'm confined to my balcony. I have been following gardening blogs elsewhere but really thrilled to find an Indian gardener blogging!

Hi GT, just wanted to tell you how happy I was to read your comment on my blog. I know I'm late in my response but I did come to check whether you had a new post.

But this one is so lovely! The birds, the droplets of rain, take me back to the rainy season. But we did have heavy rain two days ago and I was out catching the droplets on my plants:) I've sowed two kinds of seeds and working hard in my small garden.

How have you been? You must be busy with work. Always a pleasure to have you stop by. Have a great week!